John W. James

Where were you when I needed you?

The saddest question we ever hear is, "Where were you when I needed you?"

That's what people ask when they find out what we do in helping grievers. We're presenting helpful and accurate information on this site, at the time you need it most, with the hope that you'll never need to ask that question.

It's an honor and a sad privilege to be addressing you, knowing that each of you has recently experienced the death of someone important to you. We also know some of you are reading this because of your care and concern for someone who is confronted by the death of someone important in their life.

We bring our personal experience in dealing with the deaths of people who were important to us, and our professional know-how in helping grievers for more than 30 years. We'll help you distinguish between the "raw grief" that is your normal and natural reaction to the death, and the equally normal "unresolved grief" that relates to the unfinished emotions that are part of the physical ending of all relationships.

A basic reality for most grieving people is difficulty concentrating or focusing. With that in mind, we asked Tributes.com to print our articles in a large type font to make them easier to read. Sharing our concern for grieving people, they agreed.

In the Ask The Grief Experts section

… we will publish their answers to selected questions submitted by our Tributes.com visitors. Recovery from grief or loss is achieved by a series of small and correct action choices made by the griever. Therefore, many of the answers will direct readers to their books, The Grief Recovery Handbook or When Children Grieve, which spell out those actions of recovery. Both books are available in most libraries, and are also available on this website and through all bookstores.

We know that your children may have difficulty with the death of someone important to them, and that you may not be sure how to guide them. Please send us your concerns or questions regarding your children, and our grief experts will be happy to offer guidance.

At Tributes.com we believe that Every Life has a Story that deserves to be told and preserved.

Tributes.com is the online source for current local and national obituary news and a supportive community where friends and family can come together during times of loss and grieving to honor the memories of their loved ones with lasting personal tributes.